[This post only contains information relevant to Philadelphia and the surrounding area, to read the entire article follow the above link.]
The state uses the imprisonment of political leaders and rank-and-file activists as a bludgeon against movement victories. Their incarceration is a reminder of the strength, potential, and, just as crucially, the weaknesses and vulnerabilities of radical mass movements. As a result, political prisoners serve collective prison time for all those who participated in the movements from which they emerged.
Dan Berger, “The Real Dragons: A Brief History of Political Militancy and Incarceration, 1960s to 2000s”
We return after Palestinian Prisoners’ Day with a renewed commitment to struggle for the freedom of prisoners everywhere, to expand international solidarity, and to tear down the walls that hold hostage the future for which we fight. This month’s In Contempt, a roundup of repression news, political prisoner updates, and prisoner rebellions, is an attempt to prove that repression breeds resistance––but only if we try. Until all are free.
A zine and pamphlet of this column will be available in the coming days to print and share with friends, comrades, and loved ones behind bars.
As always, we welcome contributions at in_contempt @ autistici . org.
The task of revolutionary theory here is to demystify (and thus shrink) the fabricated distance between the various sites/scenes of a global struggle…
Casey Goonan, Lines in the Sand
REBELLIONS
Moshannon Valley Pennsylvania
A hunger strike broke out amongst hundreds detained at the Moshannon Valley ICE processing center after multiple people fell sick due to systemic medical neglect, deteriorating conditions and unhealthy food [2]. Frontline Digity is calling for people to call the Clearfield County Commissioners in support of the strikers and to shut down the ICE processing facility [3]:
BREAKING NEWS: People detained at Moshannon Valley Processing Center have begun a hunger strike.
Reports from inside the facility describe a recent medical emergency where a man lost consciousness and did not receive proper care, along with ongoing concerns about illness, food quality, and access to basic necessities. Nearly 100 people are now participating in a hunger strike to protest these conditions.
A hunger strike is not a small action. It is what people do when they feel they have no other way to be seen, heard, or treated as fully human.
As our Executive Director, Jaime Martinez, shared:
“A hunger strike is a sign that something is fundamentally wrong. No one should have to withhold food to be seen, heard, or treated as fully human. We have an urgent moral obligation to respond to what our neighbors are enduring every day.
When a hunger strike becomes necessary in the eyes of our neighbors, the failure is not individual—it is structural, sustained, and morally indefensible. We cannot normalize it. We cannot look away. We cannot wait.
At Frontline DIGNITY, we name this plainly: this is an emergency of conscience. The conditions that produce this level of desperation must be confronted immediately—not deferred, diluted, or buried in process. Every day of delay deepens harm.
We are calling for immediate action from the Clearfield County Commissioners: shut down the Moshannon Valley Detention Center and initiate a full, independent investigation into its conditions, oversight, and impacts. Anything less is a refusal to confront what is already in plain view.”
This is happening here.
Call the Clearfield County Commissioners:
📞 (814) 765-2641
You can say: “I’m calling to demand the shutdown of Moshannon Valley Processing Center and a full investigation into the conditions inside.”
Demand accountability. Share this. Stay informed. Support the work so we can continue showing up for our neighbors.
Mumia Abu-Jamal
On the International Day of Political Prisoners, long-term political prisoner Mumia Abu-Jamal sent a message of support to Daniela Klette on Prison Radio, which was played at the solidarity rally in front of the women’s prison in Vechta, Lower Saxony on March 21, 2026.
The trial of Daniela Klette, an imprisoned alleged former RAF militant, has been underway since March 2025. She faces charges of attempted murder, illegal possession of weapons, and attempted and completed aggravated robbery in connection with 13 robberies. After more than 30 years underground, she was arrested in Berlin in February 2024. Last week, the Federal Prosecutor’s Office also filed charges against her, accusing her of participating in three actions attributed to the RAF between 1990 and 1993.
Hello, Daniela Klette,
I send you my greetings of solidarity.
We are dealing with a truly remarkable turn in the state’s policies. I call it “Back to the Past.” You’ve surely heard of the film “Back to the Future.” What’s happening here, however, is a “Back to the Past,” because the state is acting as if it were 1972 or 1980 again. It is obvious that this is now about the political persecution of a person because of their past connections and political actions, in which no one was personally harmed or injured. It is clear that this is a political trial.
So, Daniela Klette should be acquitted – let her finally go free!
Let’s finally return to the present. Okay? It’s no longer 1972. Not even 1982. It’s time to turn the page and embrace life in the new century. The capitalist system is now trying to punish people whose beliefs it rejected years ago and whom it couldn’t catch back then. Punishing them today for their beliefs is utterly absurd.
Freedom for Daniela Klette! Acquittal for Daniela Klette! Now!
Thank you very much. With love, not fear, this is Mumia Abu-Jamal speaking.
And in German:
Hallo Daniela Klette,
Ich sende Dir hiermit meine solidarischen Grüße.
Wir haben es mit einer wirklich bemerkenswerten Wendung in der Politik des Staates zu tun. Ich nenne das »Zurück in die Vergangenheit«. Ihr habt sicher von dem Film »Zurück in die Zukunft« gehört. Was hier läuft, ist jedoch ein »Zurück in die Vergangenheit«, denn der Staat agiert, als wäre es wieder 1972 oder 1980. Dabei ist offensichtlich, dass es jetzt um die politische Verfolgung einer Person aufgrund ihrer früheren Verbindungen und politischen Handlungen geht, bei denen niemand persönlich zu Schaden gekommen oder verletzt worden ist. Es ist klar, dass dies ein politischer Prozess ist.
Also Freispruch für Daniela Klette – lasst sie endlich frei!
Kehren wir nun endlich wieder in die Gegenwart zurück. Okay? Wir schreiben nicht mehr das Jahr 1972. Nicht einmal das Jahr 1982. Es ist an der Zeit, den Kalender umzublättern und das Leben im neuen Jahrhundert anzugehen. Das kapitalistische System versucht jetzt, Menschen zu bestrafen, deren Überzeugungen man vor Jahren abgelehnt hat und die man damals nicht zu fassen bekam. Sie heute für ihre Überzeugungen zu bestrafen ist völlig absurd.
Freiheit für Daniela Klette! Freispruch für Daniela Klette! Und zwar sofort!
Danke sehr. Mit Liebe, nicht mit Furcht, hier spricht Mumia Abu-Jamal.
“Mumia Week 26” takes place April 19-25 commemorating Mumia-Abu Jamal with a series of events throughout Philadelphia:
This events series will celebrate journalist, author, advocate, political prisoner, and ALC client Mumia Abu-Jamal’s mission and message. Honor the innocence robbed by the state & innocence to protect for the future, with a week of programs centered on the fight to free Mumia & the vital, internationalist, abolitionist, and community-affirming work happening in Philadelphia, PA every single day.
Free Them All Sunday Service + Community Dinner Sunday, Apr. 19 | 2:00 PM : Tabernacle United Church
Innocence & Abolition Arts N Crafts Night: Monday, Apr. 20 | 5:00 PM: 4157 W Girard Ave
We! Want! Freedom! Trivia Night Teach-In (21+ w/ valid ID): Thursday, Apr. 23 | 6:30 PM: Tattooed Mom 530 South St
“Mumia Lives!” Birthday Celebration & Film Screening: Friday, Apr. 24 | 6:30 PM: Friends Center 1501 Cherry St
#MumiaWeek’26: March of Innocence: Saturday, Apr. 25 | 4:00 PM: One Art Community Center
Learn more & register for the events: https://luma.com/mumiaweek
Write to Mumia:
Smart Communications/PA DOC
Mumia Abu Jamal #AM8335
SCI Mahanoy
Post Office Box 33028
St Petersburg, Florida 33733
Resource Distribution Program / Political Prisoner Support Initiative
Free Tha Land DAPS family, here is an update to our Free Store Program in collaboration with @thelastpoet_hhb & @sol_said_earth_ ! Our distribution program, operating every friday in South Shore, is collecting donations for hygiene amenities and clothing resources. Every donation allows us to continue addressing the needs of the community, fighting back against manufactured resource scarcity in our beloved neighborhoods, whilst providing monetary support for 3 of Our Movement’s Political Prisoners. We are raising our donation goal from $600 to $800 so that $200 can be reserved to support Mumia Abu Jamal, Jakhi Mcray, and Malik Muhammad. We keep each other safe, fed & clothed. Free tha resources, Free tha land!
BIRTHDAYS
Mumia Abu Jamal
Birthday: April 24
Mumia is an award winning journalist and was one of the founders of the Black Panther Party chapter in Philadelphia. He has struggled for justice and human rights for people of color since he was at least 14 years old––the age when he joined the Party. In December of 1982, Mumia, who moonlighted by driving a taxi, happened upon police who were beating his brother. During the melee, a police officer was shot and killed. Despite the fact that many people saw someone else shoot and then run away from the scene, Mumia was convicted and sentenced to death by what can only be called a kangaroo court. During the summer of 1995, a death warrant was signed, which sparked one of the most effective organizing efforts in defense of a political prisoner ever. Since that time, Mumia has had his death sentence overturned, but still has a life sentence with no opportunity for parole. More information: freemumia.com
Philadelphia: “Mumia Lives!” Birthday Celebration & Film Screening: Friday, Apr. 24 | 6:30 PM: Friends Center 1501 Cherry St
Smart Communications/PA DOC
Mumia Abu Jamal #AM8335
SCI Mahanoy
Post Office Box 33028
St Petersburg, Florida 33733
As PADOC is a digital mail scanning state, please use single sided letters; books must be sent to Mumia Abu Jamal #AM8335 / 268 Bricker Road / Bellefonte, PA 16823-1667
Casey Goonan
Birthday: April 24
Casey Goonan is an anarchist/anti-imperialist political prisoner incarcerated for actions carried out in solidarity with Palestinians facing genocide in Gaza and response to the repressive actions against the pro-Palestine student encampments in the United States. In January 2025, Casey pleaded guilty to one count of maliciously damaging or destroying property used in or affecting interstate commerce by means of fire or an explosive for the arson attack on a campus police car. As part of a plea agreement, Goonan took responsibility for the other attacks but pleaded not guilty to the additional charges and was sentenced to 235 months in federal prison. More information: freecasenow.noblogs.org
Casey Goonan #24611 511
FCI Allenwood Medium
Post Office Box 2000
White Deer, Pennsylvania 17887
